2009 Pontiac G8 Owner's Manual - Page 173

Driving and Operating ease pressure on the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way into P (Park) while maintaining brake application. Then press the shift lever button and move the shift lever into another gear. See Shifting Out of Park on page 8-13. Notice: Shifting to R (Reverse) while the vehicle is moving forward could damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only after the vehicle is stopped. R (Reverse): Use this gear to back up. At low vehicle speeds, R (Reverse) can also be used to rock the vehicle back and forth to get out of snow, ice, or sand without damaging the transmission. See If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 8-29 for additional information. N (Neutral): In this position, the engine does not connect with the wheels. To restart the engine when the vehicle is already moving, use N (Neutral) only. 8-7 D (Drive): This position is for normal driving. It provides the best fuel economy. If more power is needed for passing, and the vehicle is: • Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push the accelerator pedal about halfway down. { CAUTION Shifting into a drive gear while the engine is running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could move very rapidly. You could lose control and hit people or objects. Do not shift into a drive gear while the engine is running at high speed. Notice: Shifting out of P (Park) or N (Neutral) with the engine running at high speed may damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Be sure the engine is not running at high speed when shifting the vehicle. • Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the accelerator all the way down. Downshifting the transmission in slippery road conditions could result in skidding, see Skidding under Loss of Control on page 8-23 Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal may damage the transmission. If you are stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.